Penguins News

PENGUINS WEEKLY RELEASE - 4/1/13

Pens try to move closer to playoff berth with four games in six days this week

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

Wednesday, March 27: PENGUINS 4, Senators 2

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton stormed out of the gate with a three-goal first period and skated to a 4-2 win at home over Binghamton.

After the halfway point of the opening period had passed, the Penguins lit the lamp three times over a span of 4:52 as Trevor Smith, Chad Kolarik and Paul Thompson each recorded even-strength goals.

Though Binghamton would shrink Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s lead to one early in the third, Brian Gibbons’ goal on the man-advantage with 5:18 remaining helped the Penguins escape with the victory. Jeff Zatkoff turned aside 28 shots for the Penguins.

Friday, March 29: PENGUINS 2, Bruins 3 (SO)

It took eight rounds of the shootout, but Providence was able to rally for a 3-2 victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Mohegan Sun Arena. Dylan Reese was responsible for all of the Penguins’ offense during regulation with a pair of power play goals.

Twice Reese was able to give Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a one-goal lead in the contest, only to have the Bruins respond. Christian Hanson’s marker five minutes into the third period would be the one that sent the game past regulation.

After six rounds of a shootout failed to provide a goal for either side, Chris Collins broke deadlock in the top of round seven. Justin Florek responded in the bottom half of the round and, after a Penguins miss, Hanson completed the comeback with a goal in the eighth frame.

Saturday, March 30: Penguins 3, SENATORS 2 (SO)

Trevor Smith potted his 20th goal of the season and the game-winner in the shootout as the Penguins edged the Senators, 3-2, at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

With the scored tied at 1-1 in the second period, Smith’s power play tally at 10:18 gave Wilkes-Barre/Scranton the lead once again. At 3:43 of the third, Binghamton’s Danny New knotted the match for the second time for an eventual shootout.

Chad Kolarik, Riley Holzapfel and Smith all converted past Sens goalie Nathan Lawson, while Jeff Zatkoff stopped 3-of-5 in the shootout to preserve the win. Zatkoff also made 27 saves through overtime.

UPCOMING GAMES

Tuesday, April 2, 7:15 PM – Penguins at ADMIRALS – 102.3 the Mountain

With eight wins in its last 11 games, Norfolk (33-29-4-1) has crept within two points of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins and Admirals complete their regular season series with Tuesday’s match-up. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has a 2-4-1-0 record in 2012-13 versus Norfolk. Admirals goalie Frederik Andersen has allowed eight goals in his last five starts to go 4-1-0 with two shutouts.

Friday, April 5, 7:00 PM – Penguins at PHANTOMS – 102.3 the Mountain

Adirondack currently stands in fifth place in the Northeast Division with a record of 28-34-2-3, but has enjoyed an uptick of success with three victories in its last four matches. The Penguins were victorious in the first and only meeting of the year against the Phantoms, registering a 2-1 win on Feb. 22 at Mohegan Sun Arena. Adirondack has the second-best home penalty killing unit, converting at 88.7% (134-for-151).

Saturday, April 6, 7:05 PM – PENGUINS vs. Devils – 102.3 the Mountain

Albany (28-26-1-11) has fallen off the playoff pace after notching just one win in its last eight games. The Devils ended a six-game losing streak by defeating the Hershey Bears, 5-2, last Friday, but fell in the shootout to the Portland Pirates the following night. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is 2-1-0-0 versus Albany this season with both wins coming in the shootout.

Sunday, April 7, 3:05 PM: PENGUINS vs. Bears – 102.3 the Mountain

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey (32-26-3-6) conclude their 12-game season series with Sunday’s matinee at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Penguins had won three straight versus the Bears before a 3-2 loss on Mar. 1 in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Hershey is in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the Penguins with a game in hand. Jeff Taffe is tied for the league lead with 62 points (18g-44a).

PENGUINS TEAM LEADERS as of 4/1/13…

PLAYER

GP

G

A

PTS

Chad Kolarik

68

25

32

57

Trevor Smith

67

20

25

45

Riley Holzapfel

68

17

26

43

xBeau Bennett

37

7

20

27

Paul Thompson

50

16

9

25

GOALIE

GP

REC

SO

GAA

SV%

Jeff Zatkoff

44

22-19-0

3

1.99

.919

Brad Thiessen

29

14-11-2

4

2.64

.904

EAST DIVISION STANDINGS as of 3/26/13…

TEAM

GP

W

L

OTL

SOL

PTS

1. Syracuse Crunch

68

39

20

4

5

87

2. Binghamton Senators

68

40

21

1

6

87

3. PENGUINS

68

36

28

2

2

76

4. Hershey Bears

67

32

26

3

6

73

5. Norfolk Admirals

67

33

29

4

1

71

ICE CHIPS…

- Giving up just two goals during regulation in all three games last week, the Penguins continue to lead the AHL in goals allowed per game at 2.35.

- At 19-9-2-2, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has third-highest total of victories decided by one goal in the AHL .

- The Penguins have converted on the power play in four straight games and at a rate of 20.8% (5-for-24) over that span.

- Trevor Smith notched his 20th goal of the season on Saturday in Binghamton, marking the sixth time in six AHL seasons that he has posted at least 20 goals.

- Dylan Reese tied a career high with two goals on Friday versus Providence (both on the power play). It was his first multi-goal game since Jan. 15, 2010 as a member of the Syracuse Crunch.

- Jeff Zatkoff won both of his starts last week, allowing two goals in each game and lowering his league leading goals against average to 1.99.